Koala care in regional NSW given $3.5 million boost

More than $3.5 million in new funding from the NSW Government is being provided to three regional koala care facilities.

Koalas in the state’s north will have a more secure future with $1.4 million allocated to complete construction of the Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital in Wollongbar.

Friends of the Koala, based in Lismore, will receive a $110,000 grant to vaccinate 300 koalas against chlamydia, and develop a koala database.

This funding builds on previous NSW Government commitments to protect koalas in the northern rivers from vehicle strike and degraded habitats.

Grants totalling $460,000 were awarded to Richmond Valley, Ballina, Lismore, Tweed and Clarence Valley councils for signage to alert drivers to slow down and watch for koalas in vehicle strike hotspots.

Koala habitat restoration is also underway in the Northern Rivers region, with $810,000 invested to restore 660 hectares across private land and national park estate.

In addition to grants for Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital and Friends of the Koala, the NSW Government is providing a $2 million grant to Port Stephens Koala Hospital to increase wildlife veterinary capacity.

Image. Blinky. Credit: Port Stephens Koala Hospital